Los Angeles vs Minnesota United

Los Angeles and Minnesota United are set to trade tackles in a battle of the two in-form Major League Soccer sides at BMO Stadium.

While waiting for Olivier Giroud to join the fold, Los Angeles are going from strength to strength in domestic action, winning five consecutive matches, including the last four ‘to nil.’ But as two of those five victories came against USL sides in the US Open Cup, manager Steve Cherundolo can’t let complacency creep in, especially now that his men have reduced the gap on Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake to five points. Buoyed by a three-game winning MLS streak, the Black and Gold will be out to make it four in a row for the first time this season and avenge a 2-0 defeat in their last league encounter against Minnesota United.

Despite that comfortable win, Minnesota’s last visit to California didn’t go well as they slumped to a dismal 5-1 defeat, suggesting their six-game unbeaten league streak is under imminent threat (W4, D2). But the mood might not be the best around the traveling camp after letting a 3-1 halftime lead slip in a 3-3 draw at Colorado Rapids last time out. That result knocked them down from a two-game winning run on the road, marking a fifth away league game in their six without a clean sheet. Since they scored 2+ goals in five of those matches, Minnesota’s defensive vulnerabilities on the road, while worth noting, shouldn’t overshadow their overall resilience and scoring capabilities.